NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi told chief ministers on Thursday to focus on Covid-19 containment measures (testing, tracing, isolation and quarantine) in the coming weeks with a common goal to ensure minimal loss of lives, and proposed to formulate a “staggered” exit strategy from the continuous blockade. As the country witnessed an increase in coronavirus infections and deaths in recent days, the Prime Minister held a meeting with the top ministers through videoconferences and said that it was imperative to work on a war footing, identify critical points , surround them and make sure that the coronavirus does not spread. According to an official statement, Modi also proposed formulating a common exit strategy to ensure the “phased resurgence of the population” once the 21-day national shutdown on April 14 ends. Reiterating the importance of social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus, which has infected more than 1,950 people and caused at least 50 deaths, Modi asked states to brainstorm and send suggestions on Lockdown’s exit strategy. “The prime minister stressed that the common goal for the country is to ensure minimal loss of life. In the coming weeks, testing, tracing, isolation and quarantine should continue to be the focus areas,” the statement said. States spoke about the importance of mobilizing resources, both financial and medical, to mitigate the crisis, according to the statement. Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan spoke about the increase in the number of cases in India, the spread of cases from Nizamuddin headquarters in Tablighi Jamaat, preparations to address medical cases stemming from further spread of the virus and the need to break the chain of transmission in the districts with a large number of confirmed cases. During the interaction, the Prime Minister warned that the global situation is still far from satisfactory. He briefed participants on speculation of a “possible second wave” of virus spread in some countries. He highlighted the need to maintain the supply of essential medical products, the availability of raw materials for the manufacture of medicines and medical equipment. More about Covid-19

Modi said it is necessary to ensure the availability of separate and dedicated hospital facilities for patients with Covid-19. He said that it is pertinent to maintain peace, law and order throughout the country. He said that Covid-19 has attacked “our faith and belief and is threatening our way of life.” He called on leaders to communicate with community leaders and social welfare organizations at the state, district, city and block levels to build a united front based on the community approach in the battle against the pandemic . To increase the availability of physicians, he asked states to take advantage of AYUSH’s pool of physician resources, organize online training, and utilize paramedical personnel, the National Corps of Cadets and volunteers from the National Social Service. Modi also thanked states for supporting the blocking decision because India has had some success in limiting the spread of Covid-19. He praised how all states have worked together as a team to control the spread of the virus. Underlining the importance of coordinated action and the need to avoid overlaps in stakeholder efforts, the Prime Minister spoke about the need to establish “Crisis Management Groups” at the district level and the appointment of district surveillance officers . In his opinion, the data should be taken from accredited testing laboratories: “This will ensure consistency in the district, state and center data,” the statement said. He said it is necessary to ensure the phased release of funds to beneficiaries under Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Yojana to avoid crowds at the banks. Considering that this is the time of harvest, the government has relaxed the blockade a bit. But there is a need to continuously monitor and maintain social distancing as much as possible, he noted. The prime minister called on states to think of other platforms for obtaining grains apart from the Agricultural Products Market Committees, and to explore the possibility of creating grouping platforms for rural areas. He gave the example of ridesharing apps, which he said can be used for this purpose. The top ministers thanked the Prime Minister for his leadership, continued guidance and support in this time of crisis. They appreciated him for making the bold and timely blockade decision that has helped control the spread of the virus in the country, according to the statement. The top ministers referred to their efforts to maintain social distancing, trace suspicious cases, identify and quarantine suspected cases arising from Nizamuddin Markaz, containing community transmission and promoting medical infrastructure. They also discussed strengthening the medical workforce, providing telemedicine, providing counseling on mental health, distributing food and other essentials for the needy, and caring for migrant workers. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Interior Minister Amit Shah were also present at the interaction. Shah spoke about the need to implement the blockade more strictly in some states and the importance of effective implementation at the district level of the guidelines issued by the Center. In video: Covid-19: PM Narendra Modi meets with CM